[LISTEN] Finn Forte Channels Pure Club Nostalgia On 'NYE 1999 (Hold Me Like It’s 1999)'

iEDM Staff | January 05, 2026

Finn Forte opens a new chapter of his artistic journey with “NYE 1999 (Hold Me Like It’s 1999)”, a release that leans fully into nostalgia while pushing his sound forward.

Out via Groove Angelfin Records, the track captures the raw emotion and communal energy that defined late-90s UK club culture, translating it into a modern, club-ready framework grounded in feeling rather than perfection.

At its core, “NYE 1999” is about rediscovering the magic that first drew Forte to dance music. He approached the production with a deliberate return to classic hardware, spending extended time working with vintage Junos, Korgs, and Roland synths.

Rather than chasing pristine polish, Forte allowed himself to dismantle ideas and rebuild them repeatedly, letting the character of those machines guide the process. The result is a track that feels warm, human, and immediate, blending iconic 90s piano textures with modern drums and refined low-end.

Finn Forte, NYE 1999

This single also connects to a larger creative vision unfolding across multiple projects. Over the past year, Forte has been releasing music monthly from his album Loss, an intensely personal body of work centered on healing after the end of a 17-year relationship. That album arrives early this year and stands as his most emotionally transparent project to date.

“NYE 1999” belongs to a different but equally meaningful collection, inspired by his early clubbing days in the North West of England, when nights unfolded organically without phones or social feeds — just word-of-mouth raves, unexpected records, and pure connection.

Forte’s evolution as an artist reflects this balance between past and present. Early in his career, he admits to mimicking his influences, studying why certain drums or chords carried emotional weight. Over time, that imitation gave way to identity.

His current sound fuses French-disco energy, raw piano-house, and tight modern grooves, with classic tools like the Korg M1 and Roland 909 remaining central to his workflow.

Career highlights continue to follow. Forte recently surpassed 60,000 Spotify streams as an independent artist while maintaining his monthly release schedule, and his collaboration “Sassy Groove” with RN ISMO reached No. 9 on Beatport’s House Hype chart. These milestones reflect a growing audience connecting with his honesty and consistency.

“NYE 1999 (Hold Me Like It’s 1999)” stands as more than a nostalgic nod. It’s a statement of intent from an artist who understands where he came from and how to translate that history into music that still moves dancefloors today.